Look up passive-aggressive in the dictionary and you’ll find…

… a reference to this story by Dayelin Roman. I’ve seen one sign, near the Elsmere and Kenwood intersection, and had no idea what it was all about. Now we all know. Good grief:

Note. We posted this clarification today to the original story: An article published Friday about a spat between Bethlehem diner owner John Behiri and the family of Selkirk Fire Chief Bill Asprion gave the impression the fire chief was involved in the initial confrontation. Asprion learned about the confrontation from family members who were involved.

BETHLEHEM — A spat between a fire chief and a diner owner recently reached the Town Board meeting during the debate on publicly placed signs.
John Behiri, the owner of Johnny B’s Diner in Glenmont, accused Selkirk Fire Chief Bill Asprion of posting signs about him and his business on the fire chief’s lawn and around town.

Behiri said the signs appeared after a disagreement over whether the diner could seat a large party of Asprion’s family.

Behiri took his complaint to town officials as they wrestled with how to amend the town’s signs law to allow nonprofits to place fundraising signs on roads while not opening up the town to blight from signs and not violating the First Amendment. The months-long debate began when the town’s building department started enforcing a ban on publicly placed signs and nonprofits expressed concerns.

The discussion has at times centered on whether the town would violate the First Amendment by only allowing some signs.

As the Town Board took comments from the public, Behiri told town officials about the signs targeting his business.

Asprion said he and his family attended a 9/11 memorial ceremony at the Selkirk firehouse last September and wanted to have breakfast at the diner afterward. A family member called and Behiri said he told the woman he could not guarantee seats for the large party.

But Asprion said he was under the impression the family had been told they’d have a table. They were turned away.

Behiri said he could not handle the large party and does not take reservations.

“He came out of the diner and said, ‘I can’t believe you expect me to accommodate 12 people,’ ” Asprion said.

The argument escalated from there, and the men haven’t spoken since another argument on the topic a few weeks later.

“He was a regular customer, a friend. He used to plow for me,” Behiri said.

In early October, Behiri said he noticed the signs around town and on Asprion’s lawn. Some had the word “diner” in a circle with a slash through it, he said. Others said, “diner owner doesn’t tell the whole story” and “diner owner has no respect for families and firefighters.”

Asprion said his wife put out the signs, which have since come down. Town officials made Behiri take down a banner in front of his business, and he suspected Asprion was behind the complaint.

He told officials he saw no reason for banners to be illegal, and then asked whether the First Amendment protected signs that he said slandered his business and him personally.

Councilman Jeffrey Kuhn told Behiri his option was to sue.

“I’m not trying to ruffle feathers,” Behiri said. “I could’ve sued, but I wanted it to be on record.”

Building Inspector Gil Boucher said he took down the signs on public rights of way.

“I saw about three of those, which I picked up,” he said. “I was like, ‘What the heck is this?’ I said it’s none of my business, but you can’t put signs up on the highway like this.”

Seriously, Mike? Good grief is right! The family member was told the diner could not guarantee seats for a party that large. So family made an attempt to get a table…fine. But then to crap all over the guys name by putting signs around town? What the hell is wrong with our society? Seems like a lot of displaced anger to me…go ahead and lash out at the first person you see. If we all don’t wake up soon and play nice the whole world is going to HELL!!!
I saw the sign on an Elsmere Av lawn and did not know what it meant. Helloooo, Mrs Apsrion!…there’s much more important stuff going on in the world! Yes, more important than homefries.
Sad and ridiculous.

I am off the topic? yes, a bit, but….
I have brought this up several times, to two administrations and elsewhere…..What about the sign on North St. advertising the “McCormack Hollow” subdivision? It is well within the town right of way for North St. and, by naked yet, about four feet by five feet, and by no means temporary! It seems to spit in the face of every bit of the new sign ordinance.

Aren’t there only like 15 seats in that whole diner? PS-their food is really good and well priced. Funny story about what people do when they don’t get their way. Was Mr. as prion using his fire company, tax payer funded truck to plow, now that is a newsworthy question.

This guy Asprion tries to invoke fighter status like he deserves special treatment. What a vindictive juvenile. He shows no more common sense and decency than a grade school bully trying to ruin someones reputation because of not getting seated? Grow up!

Seriously, even on a quiet day, the diner would be hard pressed to accommodate a party of twelve. Since he was a regular, Asprion should have known he was asking for the impossible. The behavior is reprehensible.

I have to comment on the Asprion sign: “diner owner has no respect for families and firefighters.” That just bugs the *%$# out of me. How is not having a table available for him and his family disrespectful? That sign is defamatory and libelous. The Asprions are lucky Johnny B did not sue them.

So the owner of the diner shows disrespect to fire fighters by not seating this guy’s family!!! I’m thinking that this Asprion guy has embarrassed the life out of the Selkirk Fire Department. Next will he demand that all Bethlehem businesses give him designated parking for the expensive vehicle he gets to drive as “Chief” of this volunteer organization. If that isn’t provided maybe he can orchestrate a major boycott of the places. Get over yourself and stop with the self importance.

I don’t know Asprion, but based on the story, he (and his wife), sound like entitled bullies. I have met Behiri and have always found him cordial, friendly and welcoming. I am hardly a regular, but Behiri has always greeted us warmly as if we were regulars, even on crowded days. Here’s to people realizing the nonsense and going to Johnny B’s more often.

There are hundreds of “spats” like this where one person takes things way too far and just can’t let it go. My neighbor was followed off the Thruway by a woman who tailed her all the way to her house, then blocked her driveway and dared her to call the police, which she did. The wacko told the neighbor she was a police officer from a neighboring jurisdiction, but when the police came, she changed her story. There are too many of these wackos in the world today.

I drove up to see the mccormac hollow sign and your right #3, it is definately in the ROW and in violation. Why is the town extending the road up there at the end and they cant make a parking area at Parker Methusa town Park? Unbelievable double standards. Also not all of the firemen are volunteer, many work for the town and get paid to run out and respond, not to mention double pension credit.

Ok..I guess I am a bit obsessed with this story and these comments get me thinking….why do the firechiefs around here get vehicles and the volunteers get pensions? How does one get involved to change this? I seriously have no idea. Are these fire depts self governing? Do they have to account to anyone other than themselves for these expenditures? I think these benefits need to be scrutinized since we, the taxpayer, are footing the bill. It seems like all the fire depts around town throw themselves great parties (Delmar Fire House: Century House a few weeks ago for members and spouses, banquet, full open bar) They could AT LEAST have it at Normanside or Shriner’s Hall. AND I understand they provide transportation home from Latham at taxpayer expense,(although I do like the idea of a DD). While I have the utmost respect for these volunteers who are putting their lives on the line, I do not agree that frivolous benefits should be included. I volunteer a lot of my time and none of my time is compensated. Am I alone with these thoughts?
I am curious what Mr Clarkson’s thoughts are with regard to these issues. I understand town vehicles are used to make fire calls. Should the town be compensated by the fire dept for town vehicle use/fuel? Should the town employee be paid by the town for “volunteer” time spent on a fire call? Any thoughts out there????

KTR.
I posted your comment, but it’s getting us off-topic. Volunteer firefighters are some of the most selfless people in our community. Are there some who get drunk with power? Possibly. You ought to check with Mr. Clarkson about the jurisdictional questions you raised. PS. I do like your idea of local firefighters supporting local restaurants when possible. Maybe they should have held the party at Johnny B’s?

You should check out the tool in Watervliet that seems to run his own
childish arts & crafts display (near the High School, on 2nd Avenue, etc) advertising how he could possibly be the worst neighbor ever.

The question about firefighters’ perks and benefits might be somewhat off-topic but it is a reasonable question. Shutting it down by effectively saying “volunteer firefighters are selfless and beyond reproach!” encourages us to unquestioningly assume that there’s no reason to look into how the local fire companies are run. I personally know nothing about the subject so have no opinion about whether whatever (if any?) compensation members of the fire department receive is appropriate or not, but implying that it’s an affront to even want to know is rather doctrinaire.

Sarah Rain
‘Doctrinaire’? Au contraire. Rather than shutting it down, I merely meant to keep the post on topic. Too often, we have a decent discussion in these blogs and then veer off into another area. I think it throws off the readers.
If anyone wants to to talk about the pros and cons of the volunteer firefighters, then let’s do so on a new thread.

I fail to see where the fact that Mr. Asprion is part of a Fire Department has anything to do with his wife’s issues with the diner owners. KTR stick to the topic and stop trying to stir up dirt on the fire departments.

Great ideas, Mike. I would love to talk the ‘pros and cons’ and I will contact Mr. Clarkson. When will the thread start? I think that, too, would be a ‘decent discussion’. And thank you, Sarah. Mike, if one takes any compensation, is that really ‘selfless’? I do not agree.

Johnny B’s has good food and friendly service but is is definitely on the small size with respect to seating capacity. Expecting the owner to accomodate 12 people on short notice is absolutely ridiculous. Asprion and his wife must rank among the pettiest people in the area. An embarassment to themselves and to the Fire Department.

To resond to “R U Serious”, the fact Mr. Asprion parks his fire chief SUV at his home where the signs were displayed has everything to do with his being a part of the fire department. Also, because he is the chief, he is a public official; therefore, what he does in public is a representation of the department and the town. Additionally, they are a non-profit organization, so I’m certain that any of their fund drives solicit donations from the same people that patronize Johnny B’s. And for some inside information, Chief Bill was driving his fire chief SUV when he picked up the materials to make and post the signs.
Johnny B’s is a great place to eat and Johnny and the crew take care of, and try to accommodate, everyone as well as they can considering the constraints of operating a small restaurant. I’m a regular there and eat out all over; Johnny B’s has policies in place to run it’s restaurant efficiently. There’s no underlying arrogance there and there certainly isn’t any disrespect to anyone, much less families and firefighters.
Asprion should stop puffing out his chest and stop expecting special treatment because of some kind of right of entitlement. You want to command respect? You have to earn it pal!
You made a fool out of yourself and your family running this unprovoked smear campaign against a hard-working, family- owned business. How petty and childish!

Bill Van Valkenburg #22 – Not seeing where the fire department has anything to do with a personal matter between a person’s wife and the owner of a restaurant. The fact that the “person” is an Officer of a Fire Department has nothing to do with any of this.

RU Serious….
The following has been taken from the material above…..”In early October, Behiri said he noticed the signs around town and on Asprion’s lawn. Some had the word “diner” in a circle with a slash through it, he said. Others said, “diner owner doesn’t tell the whole story” and “diner owner has no respect for families and firefighters.”

I believe that the Asprions win the prize for dragging firefighters in to this discussion.

Fire Chief Asprion..It seems like almost everytime I walk by the firehouse there is a fireman washing a Company truck/suv (CSX)for one there..And was wondering WHY!!!most recently on May 31st.that CSX truch was washed and sat there for 4-5 hours..As a homowner who pays taxes can I become a firefighter an bring my company trucks or even my personal truck/car there to be washed.Why don’t you look at what goes on at “your” firehouse first before you talk about someone else..

Response to #25 “Sometimes Curious”. Because someone writes the word “Firefighters” is their freedom of speech. Does not mean they are representing any fire department.

Response to #26 “ggrr”. From knowing someone in a fire department, sometimes a department allows members to wash their vehicles at the firehouse. Probably considered a small “perk” for a group of people that volunteer countless hours training and answering calls at all times of the day and night. Why are we so concerned over someone washing a vehicle, albeit a personal one or a company one that omeone must be actually using for their job? I don’t think allowing someone to use a little water to wash a vehicle is such a big deal except for those people who want to make mountains out of mole hills. Worried about taxes, go knock on the town hall door or the Bethlehem Board of Ed. Offices.

pdiddy and KTR.
So you want to talk about area fire departments? I think that would be fine, and we agree it should be with a new post. Here’s the thing: I need a post to start the discussion. A point of view. An opinion. Not hearsay or innuendo or gossip. Send me a ‘guest post’ (just a few paragraphs) with your thoughts on the issue. You can email it to me at mhuber@timesunion.com

Let me take this opportunity to invite all of you to join us in writing this blog, not as anonymous commenters but instead as writers. Lots of residents have written on this blog over the past few years. They share their opinions on Bethlehem-related issues and then readers submit comments. They write posts and they moderate the comments that ensue. One difference between blogging and commenting: bloggers use their real names. It’s a courage of conviction thing.

As a retired Ny State correctional officer with over 25 years of service and coming from a family of public servants, (father and brother) former state troopers, younger brother former investigator, and I have many good friends that serve as firemen. I have always been acutely aware of the necessity of our public image and what it means to SERVE the public. It is not part time. You have to live it! I am a patron of Johnny B’s and I have found him to be entirely genuine , polite and accommodating. The restaurant is family operated with Johnny’s wife and father,both of whom are very nice people. I would never attempt to drape myself in our flag to gain special service. Let alone have a public tantrum by placing signs all over the place. SHAME SHAME SHAME.

RUSerious, I neither said nor implied anything negative about volunteer firefighters. As a group they rank among the most selfless individuals one could imagine. Any reference to the fire department was brought forth by Asprion. If you don’t think his actions have impact on an organization where he serves as chief maybe you should reread the article along with the majority of the comments.

Note: The Times Union is not responsible for posts and comments written by non-staff members.